PRAYER MATTERS
Psalm 33.20-22 “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in Him, because we trust in His holy name. Let Your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in You.”
We have two dogs, one is almost 5 years old, and the other is a year and a half. The puppy, as I still call her, is energetic. She has the hardest time sitting still, or just sitting, when I ask her to – before I open the gate to come home, before we open a door to go outside, before I put her food dish down, and especially, before I put on her collar for a walk.
Last night, I got home much later than normal, so we had to hurry up and leave for our walk before it got totally dark. I was exhausted and just wanted to curl up with my book, but thankfully, the good Lord knew what I really needed – fresh air and to move a bit. So, I changed my shoes, grabbed the dog’s leashes and WHOA! the puppy’s excitement took over. The wiggles start when I’m lacing up my shoes. They intensified when the leash came off the hook. She knew she had to sit before I’d put it on…but she just couldn’t do it. She jumped (we were outside doing this last night) and yelped, she wiggled, and ran circles. I told her we had to go. It was almost dark. I praised her sister for waiting patiently by the gate. I tried encouraging her with treats. I was getting a wee bit frustrated; we were wasting daylight. Then she did an ariel multi-twist of a full body wiggle, and I just couldn’t help but laugh. Her happiness outweighed my irritation. We got the leash on, and we had a very good walk. We came home refreshed, glad for the time outside.
Training is tough. Especially when we are excited for the end goal. It is difficult on the flip side, too – when we don’t want to take the journey, we just want to be at the finish line. Last night’s walk reminded me of how God stays with me through all that distracts me day in and day out. I thanked Him for not giving up on me. For His patience. His love.
Wherever you are in your walk with the Lord, may you be encouraged to keep on going, find joy in the journey, fix your eyes on God, and laugh. Get outside, while you’re at it. Fresh air and laughter – good for the soul.
Ericka
Psalm 33.20-22 “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in Him, because we trust in His holy name. Let Your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in You.”
We have two dogs, one is almost 5 years old, and the other is a year and a half. The puppy, as I still call her, is energetic. She has the hardest time sitting still, or just sitting, when I ask her to – before I open the gate to come home, before we open a door to go outside, before I put her food dish down, and especially, before I put on her collar for a walk.
Last night, I got home much later than normal, so we had to hurry up and leave for our walk before it got totally dark. I was exhausted and just wanted to curl up with my book, but thankfully, the good Lord knew what I really needed – fresh air and to move a bit. So, I changed my shoes, grabbed the dog’s leashes and WHOA! the puppy’s excitement took over. The wiggles start when I’m lacing up my shoes. They intensified when the leash came off the hook. She knew she had to sit before I’d put it on…but she just couldn’t do it. She jumped (we were outside doing this last night) and yelped, she wiggled, and ran circles. I told her we had to go. It was almost dark. I praised her sister for waiting patiently by the gate. I tried encouraging her with treats. I was getting a wee bit frustrated; we were wasting daylight. Then she did an ariel multi-twist of a full body wiggle, and I just couldn’t help but laugh. Her happiness outweighed my irritation. We got the leash on, and we had a very good walk. We came home refreshed, glad for the time outside.
Training is tough. Especially when we are excited for the end goal. It is difficult on the flip side, too – when we don’t want to take the journey, we just want to be at the finish line. Last night’s walk reminded me of how God stays with me through all that distracts me day in and day out. I thanked Him for not giving up on me. For His patience. His love.
Wherever you are in your walk with the Lord, may you be encouraged to keep on going, find joy in the journey, fix your eyes on God, and laugh. Get outside, while you’re at it. Fresh air and laughter – good for the soul.
Ericka
from the week of April 15
Praises
- Praising Jesus for M’s successful hip surgery. She appreciates everyone’s prayers.
- We so enjoy and are encouraged by testimonies given on Sunday mornings.
- Praise God for providing safety, and for taking care of my friends.
- C’s last surgery in a series of surgeries is finished – she is well, thank You Lord!
- I am so thankful for the coming of Spring!
- Our family is grateful for my husband’s new job! Praise the Lord!
- Praises and thanks for a safe and wonderful vacation to Arizona.
- God is showing me a new way relating to my health. I pray my desire to obey only gets stronger.
- K’s testimony of how God worked through her surgeon is a beautiful miracle and gift from You, Father God. Thank You for protecting K and that she shares, with joy, her love for you during this extremely difficult season.
- S is thankful for her wonderful husband, children and friends who support her and provide insight.
- K praises God for how He took care of her during a long, intensive surgery.
- Praise that our children arrived back safely last night from their Texas eclipse trip.
- Praises for the healing in M’s body – it was so good to see him!
- Praise the Lord for J’s successful knee surgery.
Prayers
- Prayers of comfort for S as she mourns the loss of her father.
- Prayers of comfort for the families of Adam Berger, Trudy Cargill, and Evelyne Searl as they mourn their parents’ passing and prepare to celebrate their lives.
- Please pray for J’s health and for her smooth recovery; she has surgery April 19
- Praying for a friend’s family as he is buried this Saturday.
- For God’s direction, provision, and healing of T who was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor.
- A’s tolerating chemo fairly well, prayer she continues to have joy-filled moments during this difficult experience.
- Prayers of healing for S’s dad and that he will listen to his doctors!
- Lord, please guide my siblings to find deep happiness.
- Father God, we seek Your healing touch for A who has many health issues and will have major surgery on 19th of April. Relieve her pain, heal her back, remove her cancer – in Jesus name! We thank You for the joy You have given her and for the hope she has in Your faithfulness. She sees You at work in her life. Others see her faith and joy and are encouraged by it. All glory to You, Lord Jesus.
- Healing prayer for K who is going through radiation and chemotherapy.
- Lord, fill the hearts of our Deacons with Your Holy Spirit and guide them as they reach out to those in need in a variety of ways. Let Your love be seen through them to glorify Your name.
- Please pray for clear paths and open eyes for our family’s future plans.
- Prayers for our good friend B who suffered a stroke and is in hospital. She has very little support – please pray her needs are met and that God will give her peace.
- Praying T’s thyroid eye disease treatment will start this week.
- Prayers for safe travels for my son, that my strength is renewed. Praise Jesus two of my neighbors asked me to pray for them!
- Please pray for J’s mom V to have an open heart for God and His plan for her life and if she should live in Oregon or come back to Washington.
- Prayers for J as he adjusts to his new job as an RN at Ellensburg hospital. We are grateful!
- Please pray God will remind G of how loved she is and that she knew & loved the Lord as a child.
- The Lord has been so close after the passing of my husband – God is always with me.
- Continued prayer for T as she struggles to release her food addiction to God and receive His provision. We are grateful for her doctor’s care and pray against any further TIAs.
- Pray for A and her daughter B and the situation they are in.
- Prayers for Outreach camp – counselors, for the kiddo’s God will bring there, for Ghormley staff, for adequate funds, and most of all that the love of Jesus will be felt and known by all who step foot on the Ghormley grounds. May the children take God’s goodness back to their families.
- Please pray for grace and joy even in the midst of on-going chronic pain.
- Please pray for B’s peace of mind during medical difficulties.
- Lord, L seeks Your guidance in her next job.
- Prayers for K to have the surgery needed to heal her back.
- Pray, please, for S to know she is not alone and pray she will know the Lord & trust Him.
- Prayer for SO – strengthening her faith, healing for her body as she fights cancer.
- Strengthen and draw D to Your heart, Father God, along with his children in the loss of his wife.
THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR OUR CHURCH OFFICERS:
ELDERS: Doug Bernd, Michele Elledge, Ana Lucas-Garcia, Duncan McRayde, Keith Mathews, Shane Merrill, Trinidad Rivera, Jeff Steere, Robin Stuber, and Dennis Whitcher; Clerk Jeff Arkills.
DEACONS: Jeanne Breeding, Janet Doty, Edith Figueroa-Gonzalez, Larry Handy, Todd Hunziker, Randy & Robbie Johnson, Ginger McIlvanie, Jean McKitrick, Jim & Marilyn Noel, Jean Schiewe, Monte Schilperoort, Peggy Steere, Diane Williams, and Kathy Zeigler.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE: Linda Mathews, Carla Kupp, Ellen Bartelli, and Lyndal Davis.
PASTOR NOMINATING COMMITTEE: Ellen Bartelli, Doyle Ehl, Amy Klein, Todd Lincoln, Carolyn Mason, Amae Merrill, Mark Norman, Caroline Sundquist, and Gloria Valencia.
ELDERS: Doug Bernd, Michele Elledge, Ana Lucas-Garcia, Duncan McRayde, Keith Mathews, Shane Merrill, Trinidad Rivera, Jeff Steere, Robin Stuber, and Dennis Whitcher; Clerk Jeff Arkills.
DEACONS: Jeanne Breeding, Janet Doty, Edith Figueroa-Gonzalez, Larry Handy, Todd Hunziker, Randy & Robbie Johnson, Ginger McIlvanie, Jean McKitrick, Jim & Marilyn Noel, Jean Schiewe, Monte Schilperoort, Peggy Steere, Diane Williams, and Kathy Zeigler.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE: Linda Mathews, Carla Kupp, Ellen Bartelli, and Lyndal Davis.
PASTOR NOMINATING COMMITTEE: Ellen Bartelli, Doyle Ehl, Amy Klein, Todd Lincoln, Carolyn Mason, Amae Merrill, Mark Norman, Caroline Sundquist, and Gloria Valencia.
1 Corinthians 15.57 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”